House Dems 'raring to go'

2/6/13 7:11 PM EST

LANSDOWNE, Va. — House Democrats may be in the minority, but on the opening day of their issues conference, they weren’t acting like that was the case.

On issues from the immigration debate to the economy to gun control, caucus chairman Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) said their members were “raring to go, we want to get big things done.”

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday evening, Becerra and vice chairman Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) were optimistic that their big-ticket items — especially comprehensive immigration reform — would see action on the floor this year, particularly now that Republicans have said they are open to reforming the immigration system.

There was some gloating as well, and Crowley was quick to point out that Democrats were feeling pretty good about where they are as a group.

“The focus of their retreat was how to talk to the American people, the focus of our retreat is how to get things done for the American people,” he said. “We are the party of ideas, we are the party of vision. And our Republican colleagues have not been. I think that’s why they are in the doldrums that they are in.”

House Democrats are meeting for a three-day retreat here to discuss their agenda for the 113th Congress. After hearing from Vice President Joe Biden later Wednesday, they will hear from President Barack Obama on Thursday and former President Bill Clinton on Friday.